Process of underground gasification of coal



 

1. A PROCESS OF PRODUCING GAS FROM CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL IN SITU, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING A PANEL OF SAID MATERIAL WITH SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL INLET AND OUTLET PASSAGES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PANEL, WITH A ROW OF PILLARS OF SAID MATERIAL SPACED APART WITH OPENINGS THEREBETWEEN AND SUBSTANTIALLY SURROUNDING THE PANEL AND SPACED THEREFROM, DRILLING HOLES THROUGH SAID PANEL FROM THE FACES THEREOF, IGNITING SAID PANEL OF MATERIAL, CIRCULATING AIR THROUGH THE INLET PASSAGE AND THROUGH OPENINGS BETWEEN THE PILLARS TO SAID PANEL TO SUPPORT COMBUSTION THEREOF, REGULATING COMBUSTION BY CONTROLLING THE OPENINGS BETWEEN THE PILLARS, AND EXHAUSTING THE GAS THEREFROM THROUGH THE EXHAUST PASSAGE. 